Never too Late

Today’s Gospel Text: On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." John 6:22-29

Reflection: I strongly believe in catechizing our children well, in the ways of the Lord, when small and giving them the best by way of examples, practical faith and above all the doctrine of the church and of Christ Jesus.

If one gives them the faith when small, and if they are really well versed in the faith, then when they grow up and at any point were to move away from the faith on account of the various pressures that the contemporary world offers, they will always return to seek the Lord.

They will return to seek that Jesus whom they have known and encountered and of whose power and grace they have experienced a miracle in their daily life.

If the Egyptians could remember the flesh pots of Egypt when they were in the desert, how much more should these not remember the Lord who keeps offering his own flesh as food for them, irrespective whether they are in the desert of life or not.

They may feel abandoned and tossed by the confusion and hostility that the world and modern learning throws up at times but that will not deter them for long for he the Lord is with them.

Some times for a little while they may get deterred by these temptations that the world throws up constantly, vexing the human spirit, but in the end the Lord’s grace shall triumph.

In the gospel we have a similar situation, in which the people who have tasted Jesus and his love and power are now spurred on to seek him:

So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. (vs.24)

Yet it is never too late to mend, we still can have that taste of Jesus which can hook us on to him and no matter what forces that seeks to draw us away from Jesus our weakness will always be for him, who strengthens us over, against every power of the evil one.

Prayer:  "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isa 55:6-7

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